“After talking with the president-elect’s team, AT&T executives are confident that their deal has a good chance of passing regulatory scrutiny, people informed about the conversation said.”

The only campaign promise that Trump made that I was enthusiastic about was his guarantee to shut down this merger. I didn’t believe he’d do it, though. He’s too pro-business and too easily bought to actually enforce any sort of regulations.

“It just might be” said Toca Boca leader Björn Jefferey, “that there is no viable business model.” Jefferey was referring specifically to the creation and distribution of high quality, paid apps, with no advertising, subscriptions or IAP (In App Purchases). Jefferey backed up his comment with references to some industry statistics and the fact that he had just spend the past 12 months looking for a new corporate home for his acclaimed studio (Toca Boca/Sago Mini is now part of Spin Master Toys).

Depressing. My kids really love some of the Sago Mini games. I had no idea that they had sold their business to a conglomerate.

We do not work with fascists. There is no reason to reach out to fascists. We don’t build bridges to fascism. We burn down the bridges that link them to us. These are people who think those who don’t look like them as subhumans. I have no desire to reach across the aisle to that deplorable vomitous shit.

The big question is whether Trump’s comments, which would be extraordinary coming from any other incoming president, should be interpreted as a sign of intent or simply another example of the unusual way in which he blows off steam so publicly.

1) It doesn’t matter who said it. If an incoming president–any incoming president–says this, its extraordinary. Period. Shame on CNN for giving him a pass on this.

2) When dealing with an authoritarian, always take him at his word. Do not excuse this as “blowing off steam.” If he said it, he meant it. Act accordingly.

The right to vote in the United States is about to enter a period of great peril—and the danger is not limited to one or two elections, before Democrats regain some power and yet again provide a counterweight.

Almost twice as many people have died in attacks by right-wing groups in America than have died in attacks by Muslim extremists. Of the 26 attacks since 9/11 that the group defined as terror, 19 were carried out by non-Muslims.